Which Linux is for me?

[joedemagio]

I want to put Linux on my other computer, Windows XP chokes it and I need to find the key for my Win 98SE install disk. So what Linux is the fastest? I dont need it to be ultra user-friendly, I have used Linux before. Any recommendations?

[Yawgm0th]

Slackware. That's best for someone who doesn't care about a friendly user interface. It might be too much for you, though. What Linux distrobutions have you used?

It's probably best you get Mandrake. It's friendly enough that it should be fairly easy to setup and use, but is still more powerful than the ultra-friendly distrobution (like Lindows).

[joedemagio]

I hate Lindows, its horrible in all its compromises, and I have used Red Hat before---this computer I dont really care about and experimenting through trail and error is fine with me---user friendliness has never won me over, besides I like a new experience.

[Yawgm0th]

Best you use Mandrake then. Maybe a bit less friendly than RedHat, but a little bit faster too. Slackware is more for really experienced users.

[KoolDrew]

I also suggest you use Mandrake because it is really easy to use and I also use it. I use 9.1 because 10. CE has some bugs, but I dont know when the new one comes out. It might be out but I jsut use 9.1

[joedemagio]

Then Mandrake it is----just have to get my other computer (not so new, and I mess with it a lot) working like I want it too. I want to reformat both of its hard drives and then take out the old 3gb master hard drive and make the newer and faster 10gb hard dive the master instead of the slave. Then I'll install Mandrake. Well right now I have to figure out how to reformat its hard drives as the dos commands arent working.

[ufuk21p]

Why not Suse 9 or 9.1, It runs and always ran perfectly fine in my old rig that I use as a download machine nowadays (Athlon 1.2, 256mb ddr266, 30Gig 7200rpm hdd).

[joedemagio]

WOW I posted this AGES ago and its still on the first page!! Just noticing.

[KoolDrew]

Well...not many people post in here

[tuxfreak]

just noticed this thread, and I've just got to say a few things:

• RedHat is not easier to use than Mandrake
• the official Mandrake 10.0 is now available, and it's by far the best Mdk ever released
• why use SuSE when you have to pay for it? There are so many more excellent distos out there that are 100% free. I'm aware that there is a free FTP-install for SuSE, but it's a pain in the ass and takes forever. I also there there is a free 'personal' edition of 9.1, but it is extremely limited.
• Slackware can be VERY user friendly. The great thing about slackware is that you can literally make it into whatever you want. The only thing about it that isn't user friendly is the install, only because it doesn't use a GUI. Generally speaking, slackware does take a slightly more advanced user to set up, but once it's set up, you are free to make it however you wish. You can you the ever so popular KDE desktop (which is what most people are talking about when they say 'user friendly Linux')or Gnome or one of many other windowing environments.
• most popular Desktops for Linux (KDE & Gnome) are starting to get a bit bloated. Most of the popular distros are designed around one or the other (i.e. Mandrake, Red Hat, Fedora, SuSE,...). While you can use other desktops with these distros, they are best suited for the one they were designed for. This makes them a less-than-ideal choice for old hardware. If your PC has a hard time running XP, then you may want to consider something else. Once again I'm back at slackware. With slackware you can use any desktop manager (Blackbox/Fluxbox)with ease and is much more suited for older hardware.
• If you're up for a slightly steeper learning curve, then I'd highly suggest Slackware. That is where the real freedom of Linux lies :2cents: